§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a firm of contractors are working on orders for his Department excessive hours, while the workshops in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, are standing idle and men being discharged who usually execute this kind of work; and will he endeavour to proportion the orders in such a way so as to obviate the necessity of discharging men from the Royal Arsenal.
§ MR. J. F. HOPE (Sheffield, Brightside)Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the men of Sheffield are as liable to hunger as the men of Woolwich?
§ MR. CROOKSWell, that is strange. We do live and learn.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI am not aware of the facts related, but if the hon. Member would kindly give me the name of the firm and the nature of the work to which he alludes I will have the matter inquired into. The necessity for the 1332 discharge of men from the Royal Arsenal is much regretted, but under present circumstances it is unavoidable.